Kaduna Peace Pitch Project - FCT Kaduna
Currently, early morning weekend football training by the adults and a series of training and matches by different football clubs and other sporting activities that always attract mass spectators indicating that almost 60% of Romi people are sports enthusiasts.
The pitch is, therefore, more than a sporting hub, it’s a space that reduces tensions and transcends community differences. The field serves as a social centre, where in addition to football training and tournaments, ceremonies, cultural festivals, physical exercise, and other sporting activities by students of public and private schools are hosted. For instance ‘Boys Brigade’ use it for their parades, exercises and ceremonies.
Currently, however, this centre is a sand field owned by the Boy’s Brigade of Nigeria, which is located between residential houses, behind the Command Military Secondary School.
The importance of this field for the community will result in a youth collaboration to maintain ownership and sustainability of peace.
Aims
- Improve mental well-being, and provide safe and physical health security for participants
- Create a cross-community peace hub, where cooperation is fostered and where the Romi community can build networks with surrounding communities
- Promote skills and talent in the community and give youth participant an outlet
Goals
- A peaceful and serene environment as a result of relationship-building among beneficiaries
- Create peaceful negotiation training through the workshop, leadership sessions, and tolerance sessions at the centre, Counselling the youths to immerse themselves in a culture of tolerance and reconciliation.
- Conducive environment for sporting activities, with pitch, fencing and indoor space for community activities
- Developed football centre model in place, training coaches, managers, and school proprietors.